Syringe drive device
A syringe drive device 15 according to the present invention includes: an outer tube fixing portion 31 that detachably fixes an outer tube 22 of a syringe 16; a plunger holder 21 that holds a plunger 17 of the syringe 16; and a drive portion that moves the plunger holder 21 along an axis of the syringe. The outer tube fixing portion 31 includes: a flange catcher 33 facing a rear end of a flange 22a of the outer tube 22, the rear end being located far from the plunger 17 to be pushed; slide portions 34 and 35 that are located in front of a front end of the flange 22a to hold the flange 22a between the flange catcher 33 and the slide portions, the front end being located close to the plunger 17 to be pushed; slide guides 36 and 37 that support the slide portions 34 and 35 so as to be slidable along the axis of the syringe; and a slide portion operation mechanism that is switchable between a first state where the slide portions 34 and 35 slide along the axis of the syringe, and a second state where the slide portions 34 and 35 are held at positions to hold the flange 22a between the flange catcher 33 and the slide portions.
Latest Panasonic Patents:
- Scheduling request and buffer status reporting in a mobile communication system
- Loudspeaker system, mobile body seat, and mobile body
- Base station, terminal and communication method
- Communication apparatus and communication method for multi-AP joint re-transmission
- Imaging device including signal line and unit pixel cell including charge storage region
The present invention relates to a syringe that is used for mixing medicinal solutions, etc. The present invention particularly relates to a syringe drive device that assists in pushing and pulling a plunger with respect to a syringe.
BACKGROUND ARTIn the operation of mixing medicinal solutions, the medicinal solution in a vial is manually aspirated into a syringe to discharge the medicinal solution in the syringe. When medicinal solutions are mixed in a hospital, a plurality of operations are often performed at one time. Accordingly, it is quite a workload for a mixing person to push and pull a plunger with respect to a syringe in order to mix the medicinal solutions. For the purpose of reducing the workload of the mixing person, it has been considered a syringe drive device, which causes a plunger to be pushed and pulled by drive power of a motor.
There is a syringe drive device (infusion solution transfer device) that causes a plunger to be pushed by drive power of a motor, although it is not a device used in mixing operations (refer to JP 2004-73373 A).
The infusion solution transfer device 1 includes a flange attachment 8 used for fixing a flange 7 of an outer tube 6 of the syringe 5. The flange attachment 8 has a flange front surface support portion 9 which is fixed, and a flange rear portion presser plate 10 which is movable, so that the flange 7 having a different thickness can be fixed reliably.
The infusion solution transfer device 1 (syringe drive device) thus configured has a problem that, after the plunger 4 is pushed toward the outer tube 6, the syringe 5 is held between the flange front surface support portion 9 and a press surface 12 of the plunger holder 3, with a result that the syringe 5 cannot be easily detached.
The syringe 5 is held for the following reason. When the plunger 4 is pushed by the plunger holder 3, the outer tube 6 is frictioned with a gasket that is provided at a distal end of the plunger 4. Accordingly, as indicated by an arrow P1 in
Particularly in a state where the plunger 4 is pushed to the limit (a state where the gasket provided at the distal end of the plunger 4 is in contact with a front wall surface 13 of the outer tube 6), the syringe 5 is rigidly held by the force of the plunger holder 3 to push the plunger 4. Accordingly, it is more difficult to detach the syringe 5 in this state.
Further, in this infusion solution transfer device 1, the flange 7 is held between the flange front surface support portion 9 and the flange rear portion presser plate 10 to fix the syringe 5. Thus, the syringe 5 is fixed only in the axial direction thereof, and the syringe 5 is not sufficiently fixed in the detached direction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention has been made to solve these problems, and an object thereof is to provide a syringe drive device that allows a syringe to be easily attached and detached, as well as can stably fix the syringe.
In order to achieve this object, according to the present invention, a syringe drive device includes: an outer tube fixing portion detachably fixing an outer tube of a syringe; a plunger holder holding a plunger of the syringe; and a drive portion moving the plunger holder along an axis of the syringe; the plunger being pushed or pulled along the axis of the syringe by moving the plunger holder; wherein the outer tube fixing portion includes: a flange catcher facing a rear end of a flange of the outer tube, the rear end being located far from the plunger to be pushed; a slide portion located in front of a front end of the flange to hold the flange between the flange catcher and the slide portion, the front end being located close to the plunger to be pushed; a slide guide supporting the slide portion so as to be slidable along the axis of the syringe; and a slide portion operation mechanism being switchable between a first state where the slide portion slides along the axis of the syringe, and a second state where the slide portion is held at a position to hold the flange between the flange catcher and the slide portion.
The syringe drive device according to the present invention can stably fix a syringe, while the syringe is not held and thus can be easily attached and detached.
Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings. It is noted that the same components are denoted by the same reference signs, and description thereof will not be repetitively provided where appropriate.
Embodiment 1As shown in
As shown in
The syringe drive device 15 further includes a plunger holder 21 that holds the plunger 17, and a plunger drive portion 28 that moves the plunger holder 21 along the axis of the syringe. The plunger holder 21 has an accommodating portion 21a that detachably accommodates the brim 20 of the plunger 17. The plunger drive portion 28 has a motor and a conversion gear (both not shown) that are mounted in a power converter 23 provided at a rear bottom of the main body 27. Rotation of the motor is transmitted, by way of the conversion gear, to paired racks (not shown) which are located at the respective ends of the syringe 16. Rear ends of these racks are coupled to the plunger holder 21, and therefore the plunger holder 21 moves in a direction corresponding to the direction of rotation of the motor. When the plunger holder 21 is moved along the axis of the syringe, the plunger 17 is pushed and pulled with respect to the fixed syringe 16.
The racks (not shown) of the plunger drive portion 28 are covered with rack covers 24 and stretchable covers 25, so that oil and the like adhering to the racks are prevented from spattering outward. These rack covers 24 and the stretchable covers 25 also prevent outside dirt from adhering to the racks. Moreover, the racks are protected from water by the rack covers 24 and the stretchable covers 25. Therefore, it is easy to wash the syringe drive device 15 according to the present embodiment 1.
The syringe drive device 15 includes an operation switch 19 that is located at an operable position when the grip portion 18 is held (on the front surface of the grip portion 18), and is used for operating the plunger drive portion 28. The operation switch 19 is structured in such a manner that an upper portion projects from a lower portion, thereby realizing intuitive operations. The operation switch 19, which has a projection at either one of the upper and lower portions, allows intuitive recognition upon touching the switch, with regard to which end is the upper portion (or the lower portion). Further, the operation switch 19 has, in front thereof, a trigger guard 94 having a ring shape. The trigger guard 94 is provided integrally with the grip portion 18. The trigger guard 94 is located so as to surround the operation switch 19 with a space being provided to allow a finger to be inserted thereinto. Further, in the syringe drive device 15, the power converter 23 is provided, at a lower end thereof, with a pad 93 that is configured by a rubber member or the like. This pad 93 is provided in order to soften a surface to be in contact with the back of a hand when the weight of the plunger drive portion 28 is received by the back of the hand. Accordingly, the pad 93 may be configured by a soft member having certain elasticity, in place of the rubber member.
Described below is the flow of the operation of mixing medicinal solutions. Firstly, an operator attaches the syringe 16 to the syringe drive device 15. The operator holds the grip portion 18 of the syringe drive device 15 with the right hand, for example, and places the index finger of the right hand holding the grip portion on the operation switch 19.
In the syringe drive device 15 according to the present embodiment 1, when the upper portion of the operation switch 19 is pressed, the motor of the plunger drive portion 28 rotates in the positive direction. This rotation of the motor is converted by the conversion gear into linear motion toward the rear ends of the racks. Then, the plunger holder 21, which holds the brim 20 of the plunger 17 in the accommodating portion 21a, is moved backward (along an arrow 57a) so as to be away from the outer tube 22 of the syringe 16. The plunger 17 is thus pulled out of the outer tube 22. As a result, as shown in
On the other hand, when the lower portion of the operation switch 19 is pressed, the motor of the plunger drive portion 28 rotates in the negative direction. This rotation of the motor is converted by the conversion gear into linear motion toward the front ends of the racks. Then, the plunger holder 21 is moved forward (along an arrow 57b) so as to come close to the flange 22a of the outer tube 22. The plunger 17 is thus pushed toward the outer tube 22. As a result, as shown in
In this manner, the operator assists in pulling and pushing the plunger 17 with respect to the syringe 16 by pressing the upper portion and the lower portion of the operation switch 19, respectively. When the operation switch 19 is made flat (the state where none of the upper portion and the lower portion of the operation switch 19 is pressed), the plunger holder 21 stops moving.
The syringe drive device 15 further includes a syringe fixing mechanism (the outer tube fixing portion 31) which can stably fix the syringe 16 while the syringe 16 can be easily attached and detached. In order to describe the syringe fixing mechanism, the mechanisms of the syringe drive device 15 are referred to first.
The outer tube fixing portion 31 has a syringe mount portion 51. The syringe mount portion 51 is configured as a space in which the outer tube 22 of the syringe 16 is mounted, when the syringe 16 is placed on the top of the main body 27 of the syringe drive device 15. The outer tube fixing portion 31 further includes a flange catcher 33, slide portions 34 and 35, and slide guides 36 and 37. The flange catcher 33 is located to face the rear end of the flange 22a of the outer tube 22 that is mounted in the syringe mount portion 51. The slide portions 34 and 35 are located in front of the flange 22a that is mounted in the syringe mount portion 51, so as to hold the flange 22a between the flange catcher 33 and the slide portions 34 and 35. The slide guides 36 and 37 hold the slide portions 34 and 35 such that the slide portions 34 and 35 can move along the axis of the syringe.
The outer tube fixing portion 31 includes input arms 40 and 41 having first ends rotatably coupled to fixed supports 38 and 39 that are provided at the slide guides 36 and 37, respectively, and a press portion 43 that is coupled to second ends of the input arms 40 and 41. The press portion 43 according to the present embodiment 1 has a shaft-like portion 43a that has ends fixed to the input arms 40 and 41, respectively, and a pad-like portion 43b that is provided at a center of the shaft-like portion 43a and has certain elasticity. The outer tube fixing portion 31 has transmission arms 48 and 49 that have first ends rotatably coupled to first supports 44 and 45 respectively provided at intermediate positions of the input arms 40 and 41, and second ends rotatably coupled to second supports 46 and 47 respectively provided at the slide portions 34 and 35, which are located in front of the slide guides 36 and 37, respectively. The syringe mount portion 51 is configured by the slide portions 34 and 35, the slide guides 36 and 37, the input arms 40 and 41, and the transmission arms 48 and 49. The syringe mount portion 51 is provided between paired link mechanisms that operate in synchronization with each other. In other words, the paired link mechanisms are provided at the respective ends of the syringe mount portion 51.
As shown in
When the slide portions 34 and 35 are linearly moved in conjunction with the rotation of the input arms 40 and 41, the outer tube fixing portion 31 can be switched between the attached state shown in
In order to attach the syringe 16 to the syringe drive device 15, when the outer tube fixing portion 31 is in the released state shown in
In order to detach the syringe 16 from the syringe drive device 15, the operator rotates the input arms 40 and 41, which are located in the attached state shown in
Described next is laterally observed two-dimensional motion of the link mechanisms with reference to the side view of
One of the link mechanisms is configured by the input arm 40, the transmission arm 48, the slide portion 34, the fixed support 38, the first support 44, the second support 46, and the slide guide 36. The following description mainly refers to the link mechanism including the slide portion 34. It is noted that the other one of the link mechanisms including the slide portion 35 is configured similarly to the link mechanism including the slide portion 34. More specifically, the link mechanism including the slide portion 35 is configured symmetrically with the link mechanism including the slide portion 34, by the input arm 41, the transmission arm 49, the slide portion 35, the fixed support 39, the first support 45, the second support 47, and the slide guide 37. In this link mechanism, the input arm 41 is connected to the input arm 40 with the press portion 43 provided therebetween, so as to be coupled with the link mechanism that is configured by the input arm 40, the transmission arm 48, the slide portion 34, the fixed support 38, the first support 44, the second support 46, and the slide guide 36. In this configuration, the two link mechanisms operate in synchronization with each other.
In the released state, as indicated by the dotted lines in
Subsequently, in order to bring the outer tube fixing portion 31 into the attached state, the press portion 43 is pinched and the input arm 40 is rotated about the fixed support 38 so as to come close to the flange 22a of the syringe 16. Due to the rotation of the input arm 40, the slide portion 34 is pulled by the input arm 40 by way of the transmission arm 48. The slide portion 34 is guided by the slide guide 36 and linearly moves backward so as to come close to the flange catcher 33.
The following description refers to the transition of the link mechanism in accordance with the rotation of the input arm 40 toward the flange 22a. While the input arm 40 transitions from the posture indicated by the dashed lines into the posture indicated by the solid lines in
From this state until the press portion 43 is brought into contact with the outer tube 22, the input arm 40 is further rotated. When the press portion 43 is in contact with the outer tube 22 mounted in the syringe mount portion 51, the fixed support 38 is located above the straight line (inflection line 52) that connects the first support 44 and the second support 46. In this case, the slide portion 34 is slightly moved forward so as to be away from the flange catcher 33, and the flange 22a is held between the flange catcher 33 and the slide portion 34. The press portion 43 is moved downward from the state where the first support 44, the fixed support 38, and the second support 46 are aligned on the straight line, and presses the outer tube 22 from upward so that the outer tube 22 is held between the bottom portion and the press portion 43. In this manner, the outer tube 22 is fixed to the outer tube fixing portion 31.
When the input arm 40 is rotated so as to move away from the flange 22a in the attached state, the press portion 43 initially moves upward so as to be away from the outer tube 22. When the press portion 43 moves upward from the state where the first support 44, the fixed support 38, and the second support 46 are aligned on the straight line, the slide portion 34 moves away from the flange 22a of the outer tube 22.
In the syringe drive device 15 according to the present embodiment 1, the outer tube fixing portion 31 is designed such that the fixed support 38 is located above the inflection line 52 when the press portion 43 is in contact with the outer tube 22. In this configuration, the syringe drive device 15 can stably fix the syringe 16 in the attached state.
More specifically, as shown in the schematic view of the link mechanism in the attached state in
In addition, it is easy to bring the syringe 16 in the attached state into the released state. In the attached state shown in
When the press portion 43 is pinched upward, the slide portion 34 moves backward (toward the flange catcher 33) in conjunction therewith. In this case, there needs a small force for pushing the flange 22a toward the flange catcher 33. The present embodiment 1 adopts a configuration in which the force for pinching upward the press portion 43 is smaller than the force for moving the slide portion 34. More specifically, by setting the fixed support 38 as a fulcrum, the press portion 43 as a power point, and the first support 44 as a point of action, respectively, the force for pinching upward the press portion 43 is reduced according to the principle of leverage.
Until the link mechanism is brought into the state at the inflection point (where the fixed support 38 is positioned on the inflection line 52) as shown in
In this configuration, it is possible to provide the syringe drive device that can stably fix the syringe while the syringe is easily attached and detached.
In the syringe drive device 15 according to the present embodiment 1, after pressing the lower portion of the operation switch 19 to push the plunger 17, the operation switch 19 is returned to the flat state to stop the movement of the plunger holder 21. When the syringe 16 is subsequently detached from the syringe drive device 15, the syringe 16 will not be held but can be detached easily. This feature is detailed below.
In the case of a conventional infusion solution transfer device 1 (syringe drive device) shown in
The feature of not causing holding will be described in more detail with reference to
Further, as described earlier, the bias spring 58 (see
As described earlier, the syringe drive device 15 according to the present embodiment 1 can stably fix the syringe 16, while the syringe 16 can be easily attached and detached.
Further, as described earlier, the outer tube distal end holder 54 is provided to the slide portion 34 in front of the slide guide 36. The outer tube distal end holder 54 holds the outer tube 22 of the syringe 16, which can be therefore fixed stably. This feature is detailed below.
Assume that, as shown in
To the contrary, according to the present embodiment 1, as shown in
Further, the outer tube distal end holder 54 is provided at the slide portion 34. As shown in
In the present embodiment 1, the outer tube distal end holder 54 has a ring shape to connect the two slide portions 34 and 35. Alternatively, the outer tube distal end holder 54 may be in a different shape as long as being capable of suppressing tilt rotation of the outer tube 22. As an example of such an alternative shape, the outer tube distal end holder 54 may be possibly replaced with an outer tube distal end holder 154 having a ring shape with an upper portion being cut off, as shown in
Further alternatively, as shown in the sectional view of the outer tube distal end holder in
As described earlier, the rubber member serving as an elastic body is provided at the contact portion 61 of the slide portions 34 and 35, which faces the flange catcher 33. Therefore, the flange 22a can be fixed more stably. This feature is detailed below.
As shown in
Assuming that the contact portion 61 of the slide portion 34 is rigid, the gap of the minimum size (the gap in the state at the inflection point) between the contact portion 61 and the flange catcher 33 cannot be set to be narrower than the thickness of the flange 22a. When the outer tube fixing portion 31 transitions into the attached state and the gap between the slide portion 34 and the flange catcher 33 is slightly widened in comparison to the minimum size, the gap between the slide portion 34 and the flange catcher 33 is larger than the thickness of the flange 22. As a result, it is impossible to stably hold the flange 22a between the slide portion 34 and the flange catcher 33.
To the contrary, according to the present embodiment 1, the contact portion 61 is configured by the rubber member. It is thus possible to set the gap of the minimum size between the slide portion 34 and the flange catcher 33 in the state at the inflection point so as to be smaller than the thickness of the flange 22a. More specifically, because the contact portion 61 is elastically compressed, the slide portion 34 can move close to the flange catcher 33 until the gap between the flange catcher 33 and the slide portion 34 is made smaller than the thickness of the flange 22. In this configuration, even when the outer tube fixing portion 31 transitions into the attached state and the gap between the contact portion 61 and the flange catcher 33 is made slightly larger than the minimum size, the flange 22a is elastically held between the flange catcher 33 and the contact portion 61. Therefore, the flange can be reliably held with no gap formed therebetween.
In place of the contact portion 61, or in addition to the contact portion 61, the portion of the flange catcher 33 to be in contact with the flange 22a may be configured by a rubber member.
As shown in
More specifically, when the outer tube fixing portion 31 is in the released state, the push-up portion 63 pushes upward the syringe 16, which is thus slightly disengaged upward. In this state, the operator can easily pinch the syringe 16. Particularly in a case where the rack covers 24 and the like are located on the respective sides of the syringe mount portion 51, the rack covers 24 may disturb pinching and detaching the syringe 16. In this case, provision of the push-up portion 63 facilitates detaching the syringe 16.
The push-up portion 63 shown in
There may be provided an idle running section t, in which, during the transition from the released state shown in
Particularly in the process of the transition from the syringe released state into the attached state, the widths of the idle running section t and the outer tube distal end holder 54 may be set such that the front end surface of the outer tube distal end holder 54 attached to the slide portion 34 reaches the distal end of the outer tube of the syringe 16 before entering the idle running section t (while the outer tube 22 of the syringe 16 is still tilted). Because the outer tube 22 of the syringe 16 is tilted, the distal end of the outer tube is located at a low level. Accordingly, the distal end of the outer tube can be stably located below the outer tube distal end holder 54. As a result, the outer tube distal end holder 54 is prevented from being caught by the distal end of the outer tube of the syringe. Therefore, the syringe can be attached more smoothly.
Embodiment 2In a syringe drive device according to the present embodiment 2, the press portion includes a thickness adjuster that changes the distance from a syringe mounted on the outer tube fixing portion 31.
As shown in
According to the present embodiment 2, there is provided the thickness adjuster that changes the thickness of the press portion 43 shown in
When the syringe 16 of the standard type is used in the syringe drive device 15, as shown in
When the syringe 16 is of a small type and has an outer diameter smaller than that of the syringe 16 of the standard type, if the press portion 43 is used without increasing the thickness thereof, the input arm 40 is remarkably tilted. In this case, the distance between the slide portion 34 and the flange catcher 33 is made too large, with a result that the syringe 16 cannot be fixed stably. Therefore, in the case of the syringe 16 of such a small type, as shown in
As shown in
The pedestals 78 supporting the coupling shaft 77 moves forward or backward on the slide portions 34 and 35 to change positions fixed to the slide portions 34 and 35, respectively. More specifically, when convex portions (not shown) provided at the pedestals 78 of the outer tube distal end holder 75 are inserted into any one of pairs of coupling holes 79 provided respectively in the slide portions 34 and 35, it is possible to adjust the positions of the outer tube distal end holder 75 in the forward and backward directions of the slide portions 34 and 35. Accordingly, the outer tube distal end holder 75 can adapt to the syringes 16 having different lengths in the axial direction. More specifically, when the syringe 16 is short, the pedestals 78 are positioned close to the rear ends of the slide portions 34 and 35, respectively. On the other hand, when the syringe 16 is long, the pedestals 78 are positioned close to the front ends of the slide portions 34 and 35, respectively. In this manner, the distal end of the outer tube 22 can be reliably held by the outer tube distal end holder 75.
The syringe mount portion 51 of the syringe drive device according to the present embodiment 2 supports the outer tube 22 from below. However, in the attached state, the outer tube 22 may be in contact with the syringe mount portion 51 at a portion other than the bottom plate portion 66 and the movable plate 64 that configure the bottom surface of the syringe mount portion 51. For example, as in the sectional view of
A syringe drive device according to the present embodiment 3 is characterized in that the input arms are provided with lock portions to be coupled with the slide portions. In such a case where the lock portions are provided, the input arms are fixed reliably, so that the syringe can be fixed more stably.
When the lock portion 84 is locked with the slide portion 82 as shown in
When the lock portion 84 is provided at the input arm 40 in this manner, the syringe drive device according to the present embodiment 3 can fix the syringe 16 more stably.
Embodiment 4In a syringe drive device 15 according to an embodiment 4 shown in
After the slide portions 34 and 35 are manually moved to the positions to hold the flange 22a between the flange catcher 33 and the slide portions 34 and 35, the shaft portions 93a of the stoppers 93 are inserted into the through hole 91 and the insertion holes 92 respectively for the slide portions 34 and 35. Accordingly, the positions of the slide portions 34 and 35 are fixed, and the flange 22a of the outer tube 22 is held while being held between the flange catcher 33 and the slide portions 34 and 35. If the stoppers 93 are extracted from the through hole 91 for the both slide portions 34 and 35, the slide portions 34 and 35 are linearly moved so as to be away from the flange catcher 33 by the bias force of the bias springs 58, so that the flange 22a is released from the held state.
After the slide portions 34 and 35 are manually moved to the positions where the flange 22a is held between the flange catcher 33 and the slide portions 34 and 35, each of the stoppers 95 is pinched with a hand and is rotated clockwise in the figure about the support 96. Accordingly, the shaft portion 93a is inserted into the through hole 91 and the insertion hole 92 for each of the slide portions 34 and 35 (so as to achieve the state indicated by broken lines in the figure). The stoppers 95 are each locked in this posture by a lock mechanism (not shown). When the locking is released, each of the stoppers 95 is rotated clockwise about the support 96 by the bias force of the spring 97, and the shaft portion 93a is extracted from the through hole 91 and the insertion hole 92. The flange 22a is thus released from the held state.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITYThe syringe drive device according to the present invention can stably fix a syringe, while the syringe can be attached and detached easily. The syringe drive device of the present invention is useful for mixing medicinal solutions or the like, in which operation the syringes need to be often exchanged.
Claims
1. A syringe drive device comprising:
- an outer tube fixing portion for detachably fixing an outer tube of a syringe;
- a plunger holder for holding a plunger of the syringe; and
- a drive portion for moving the plunger holder along an axis of the syringe;
- the plunger being configured to be pushed or pulled along the axis of the syringe by moving the plunger holder;
- wherein the outer tube fixing portion includes: a flange catcher configured to face a rear end side of a flange of the outer tube, the rear end side of the flange being defined as a side farthest from a discharge location of the syringe; a slide portion configured to be located at a front end side of the flange of the outer tube to hold the flange between the flange catcher and the slide portion, the front end side of the flange being defined as a side closest to the discharge location of the syringe; a slide guide supporting the slide portion so that the slide portion is slidable along the axis of the syringe; and a slide portion operation mechanism switchable between a first state wherein the slide portion slides along the axis of the syringe, and a second state wherein the slide portion is held at a position to hold the flange of the outer tube between the flange catcher and the slide portion, the slide portion operation mechanism including: an input arm having a first end rotatably coupled to a fixed support at the slide guide; a press portion coupled to a second end of the input arm; and a transmission arm having a first end rotatably coupled to a first support at an intermediate position of the input arm, and a second end rotatably coupled to a second support at the slide portion located at a front end side of the slide guide; wherein the slide portion is configured to move linearly along an axis of the flange in conjunction with rotation of the input arm; and wherein the outer tube fixing portion is configured such that the slide portion is located closest to the flange catcher when the first support, the fixed support, and the second support are aligned in a straight line.
2. The syringe drive device according to claim 1, wherein the outer tube fixing portion is configured such that, when the press portion is in contact with the outer tube of the fixed syringe, the fixed support is located opposite to the syringe with respect to a straight line connecting the first support and the second support.
3. The syringe drive device according to claim 1, wherein the outer tube fixing portion includes two link mechanisms, a first one of the link mechanisms having the slide portion, the slide guide, the input arm, and the transmission arm, and a second one of the link mechanisms having a second slide portion, a second slide guide, a second input arm, and a second transmission arm,
- wherein a syringe mount portion allowing the outer tube of the syringe to be mounted therein is provided between the two link mechanisms coupled with each other by a shaft of the press portion.
4. The syringe drive device according to claim 3, wherein the press portion has an adjuster for changing a distance from the syringe when the input arm is set at a position where the flange of the outer tube mounted in the syringe mount portion is held between the flange catcher and the slide portion.
5. The syringe drive device according to claim 1, wherein the slide portion has an outer tube distal end holder for holding a distal end of the outer tube of the syringe.
6. The syringe drive device according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a bias member elastically biasing the slide member in a direction away from the flange catcher.
7. The syringe drive device according to claim 1, wherein the slide portion has an elastic body partially at a position facing the flange catcher.
8. The syringe drive device according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a push-up portion at a bottom of the outer tube fixing portion, the push-up portion being configured to move upward or downward in accordance with movement of the slide portion along the axis of the syringe, and being configured to rotate upward from the bottom when the slide portion moves away from the flange catcher.
9. The syringe drive device according to claim 1, wherein the press portion includes a lock portion detachably coupled to the slide portion located at a position to hold the flange between the flange catcher and the slide portion.
6270473 | August 7, 2001 | Schwebel |
20040057854 | March 25, 2004 | Wakabayashi et al. |
20040122369 | June 24, 2004 | Schriver et al. |
3-247347 | November 1991 | JP |
2004-73373 | March 2004 | JP |
2004-305361 | November 2004 | JP |
2005-52367 | March 2005 | JP |
2006-510450 | March 2006 | JP |
- International Search Report issued Mar. 22, 2011 in International (PCT) Application No. PCT/JP2011/000404.
- English translation International Preliminary Report issued Sep. 18, 2012 in International (PCT) Application No. PCT/JP2011/000404.
Type: Grant
Filed: Jan 26, 2011
Date of Patent: Apr 15, 2014
Patent Publication Number: 20120330237
Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Osaka)
Inventors: Soichiro Fujioka (Osaka), Tohru Nakamura (Osaka), Osamu Mizuno (Osaka), Akinobu Okuda (Nara), Akihiro Ohta (Osaka), Mizuho Sakakibara (Tokyo), Toshihide Ueda (Osaka)
Primary Examiner: Victoria P Shumate
Application Number: 13/575,124
International Classification: A61M 37/00 (20060101);